A group of black ministers in New Orleans is kicking off a campaign to recall newly elected 2nd District Congressman Joseph Cao.

An organization called the Louisiana Ministerial Alliance of Churches says it will file papers with the Secretary of State to begin the process of seeking the signatures needed to force a recall election.

The group is upset over Cao's two votes against an economic stimulus package which Cao said would mean little in terms of job creation to his district. Cao joined fellow GOP members of the House in voting against a House proposal and the final version of the package.

The ministers claim Cao may have "irreparably harmed" the ability of those in the district from seeking continued assistance from the federal government. In a written statement, they also described his votes as "ridiculous."

The chairman of the recall committee is Minister Aubry Wallace.

Secretary of State Jay Dardenne tells 99.5fm that his office has yet to receive the paperwork from the group. When filed, Dardenne says the recall organizers will have 180 days from the date of filing to collect the signatures of just over 101,000 voters in the district.

The organization has called a Thursday morning news conference to discuss the effort.

Constitutionally, one may not recall a member of the House or the Senate, regardless of the state law on point. The Constitution is the sole source of the terms, qualifications and mechanisms for removal for these officials.

The stimulus bill became law, despite Cao’s vote against it. So he has the perfect counter argument: “Give the stimulus bill time to fail, before deciding I’ve done anything worthy of being recalled from office. So far, it would appear the markets agree with my position.”

I don’t think you can recall a Federal office holder. I know for sure you cannot recall a Senator. I think the best you can do is a referendum aka a no confidence vote and then convince the body - Senate or House - to expel the member with that vote as the justification. I doubt the Congresscritters would go for that, though, because the precedent would also apply to them and you can bet your bottom dollar that FR would have the necessary petitions up in a heartbeat for a whole bunch of those jackals.

9
posted on 02/18/2009 9:24:33 AM PST
by NonValueAdded
(May God save America from its government; this is no time for Obamateurs)

Not all of Louisiana's Democrats are ignorant. Democrats out number republicans in Louisiana but it is a reliably red state. Bambi only got like 38 or 39 percent of the vote here. You have a lot of old dems here who vote conservatively, they just have never changed their party affiliation.

He may not be a one term congressman. There is a district next to him that is represented by a ‘rat. He might move next door and run against him. Of course it would be an uphill race. But, he definitely cannot be reelected from this district.

I thought congresscritters were not subject to recall. They can be expelled by the House itself, or possibly impeached-then-convicted (although the impeach-ability of a congresscritter remains an unsettled question).

You have a lot of old dems here who vote conservatively, they just have never changed their party affiliation.

Actually, you still have a bunch of conservative people there who, in order to have the best shot at eliminating the worst candidates, are registered as Democrats. They've no intention of changing their registration status - they know exactly what they're doing.

Tax exempt organizations are not allowed to participate in, let alone lead, overt political activities. In practice it seems this applies only to conservative groups. Going after liberal, minority organizations gets you the racist tag.

Nagin has already said that he will take any money the state doesn't want.

I believe Obama has another, separate pile of "federal aid" (Welfare 2.0) in mind for the "Katrina Zone". Don't know if that or the Porkulus funds can actually be routed directly to the city, though. It *is* a "political subdivision of the State of Louisiana", whether Nagin likes it or not. Perhaps Orleans Parish should secede (I'd drive down to help build the border wall).

I live in Cao’s district. People are very against the pork bill. Even the liberals. Probably it’s just the minority community upset. We have a community forum. The recount rules are too hard. They are just doing this for attention.

It is time the right starts playing hardball, like the left has been for a couple decades. Go for the jugular. Go after Acorn, churches involved in politics, destroy reputations, etc. It is the Washington way...but only being played by one side.

"I thought congresscritters were not subject to recall. They can be expelled by the House itself, or possibly impeached-then-convicted (although the impeach-ability of a congresscritter remains an unsettled question). "

You are right on the money. Congressman, nor Senators for that matter, enjoy the same sovereign immunity as the President. So, they can be indicted, tried and convicted in a criminal state or federal court.

As for removal from office, the Senate's rules are very well-defined. The House's are as well, and in fact it's a little easire to expel a sitting Congressman. Just ask Jim Trafficant, former Dem Rep from Ohio. The Code of Conduct for a Congressman is very clearly defined in the Congressional by-laws. However, only the US Congress can remove a Representative.

Not like these fools are doing. One basically has to commit treason to be removed from national office. Heck, even common offensives like bribery are hard cases to remove and keep these people out of office in "protected" districts/

40
posted on 02/18/2009 10:03:32 AM PST
by RedMonqey
(History writes the best satire and the worst tragedies.)

They allege that the district has been irreparably harmed in being able to seek continuing assistance (welfare) from the federal government? I’m laughing.

Let’s see: A) The pork bill passed - lots of pork to be had by the ministers. b) NOLA has been and will always be a big receiver of welfare. No worries, gents. The gravy train will never stop for your city - even if the budget were slashed to the bone.

"irreparably harmed" the ability of those in the district from seeking continued assistance from the federal government

How much more 'assistance' does one need 'from the federal government'?!

New Orleans Levee Repair Price Tag Triples

previously estimated at $3.5 billion. Now it will cost $9.5 billion if insurance-certified levees are built to protect the entire New Orleans region

Congress has already approved $122 billion in spending

Katrina may cost as much as four years of war Government certain to pay more than $200 billion following hurricane

******

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) reports Medicaid, medical assistance for aged, blind, disabled and low-wage working families, is down 46 percent from pre-Katrina levels. DHH reports before Katrina there were 134,249 people in New Orleans on Medicaid. February 2008 reports show participation down to 72,211 (a drop of 62,038 since Katrina). Medicaid is down dramatically in every category: by 50 percent for the aged, 53 percent for the blind, 48 percent for the disabled and 52 percent for children.

The Social Security Administration documents that fewer than half the elderly have returned. New Orleans was home to 37,805 retired workers who received Social Security before Katrina; now there are 18,940 - a 50 percent reduction. Before Katrina, there were 12,870 disabled workers receiving Social Security disability benefits in New Orleans, now there are 5,350 - that's 59 percent fewer. Before Katrina, there were 9,425 widowers in New Orleans receiving Social Security survivors benefits; now there are less than half that many - 4,140.

Children of working-class families have not returned. Public school enrollment in New Orleans was 66,372 before Katrina. Latest figures are 32,149 - a 52 percent reduction.

Public transit usage numbers are down 75 percent since Katrina. Prior to Katrina, there were frequently over 3 million rides per month. In January 2008, there were 732,000 rides. The Regional Transit Authority says the reduction reflects that New Orleans now has far fewer poorer, transit-dependent residents.

Figures from the Louisiana Department of Social Services show the number of families receiving food stamps in New Orleans has dropped from 46,551 in June 2005 to 22,768 in January 2008. Welfare numbers are also down. The Louisiana Families Independence Temporary Assistance Program was down from 5,764 recipients (mostly children) in July 2005 to 1,412 in the latest report.

United Nations officials recently called for an immediate halt to the demolition of public housing in New Orleans, saying demolition is a violation of human rights and will force predominately black residents into homelessness. "The spiraling costs of private housing and rental units, and in particular the demolition of public housing, puts these communities in further distress, increasing poverty and homelessness," said a joint statement by UN experts in housing and minority issues. "We therefore call on the federal government and state and local authorities to immediately halt the demolition of public housing in New Orleans." Similar calls have been made by Senators Clinton and Obama. Despite these calls, the demolitions continue.

Even if you vote lockstep with "The One" doesn't guarantee a seat in a" black "district if you are white. Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) has held office from a majority black district solely because his opposition in the Democratic primaries split the "black" vote.

Time will tell if he is lucky next year.

46
posted on 02/18/2009 10:43:19 AM PST
by RedMonqey
(History writes the best satire and the worst tragedies.)

Big problem, though. The ‘Preacher Vote’ has been dispersed throughout the SouthEast, and haven’t voted much in New Orleans since Katrina. That’s why Ray Nagin won his election the last time; the Preacher Vote wasn’t there in sufficient numbers.

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